Kickstarting your annual report and accounts 2026 — Part 2
Structuring the story and how to shape your annual report narrative
In our last article, we talked about the importance of purpose, people and planning when kickstarting your Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) process.
Now that your project plan and reporting team are in place, it's time to move on to the next stage, shaping your narrative.
The second instalment of our Kickstarting your annual report and accounts 2026 series focuses on transforming your framework into a compelling yet compliant story that connects with your stakeholders and reflects your organisation's progress and purpose.
At RGS, we often remind clients, "Your ARA is a valuable communication tool that tells your company's story whilst delivering clear and concise legal and regulatory disclosures. Avoid repetition and duplication, remove boilerplate language and instead add real colour and context to your disclosures”.
Round Governance Services have years of experience helping businesses like yours with their ARA documents. We remove pressure on internal teams by project managing the process, drafting content and ensuring all disclosures have been captured. Find out more.
Using templates and using them well
If last year's ARA is guiding you, you're not alone. Few teams have the luxury of a completely clean slate, and last year's report could be a valuable starting point.
But there's a delicate balance between using existing templates and falling into the copy-and-paste trap.
Templates give your project structure. They can provide a clear framework and speed up production. However, you shouldn't allow them to limit creativity or critical thinking.
Your organisation will have evolved. The operating environment, governance expectations, strategic messages, and achievements are all likely to have shifted. So rather than reusing last year's content, use your template as a springboard.
Revisit the structure and ask yourself, does it still serve your current strategy and story?
Refresh the tone. Does the language reflect where your organisation is now?
Reassess the visuals. Does the imagery and design still support your brand and narrative?
Round recommends: Use templates for efficiency. Think of them as a map, not the destination. We've created a checklist to help you go through the latest version of your report. Use it to mark up the pages where the content we reference exists and where you need to make changes. When you've made the changes, tick the list. ✔️
Updating your corporate messages
Your organisation's key messages evolve every year. Perhaps your sustainability goals have matured, your strategy has shifted focus, or your culture has changed. Now's the time to capture those developments.
Start by reviewing last year's Chair's statement, CEO review, and strategic report. Identify the key messages because they’ll help you form narrative threads that tie your report together, ensuring it's relevant and forward-looking. What do your RNS announcements say?
Create a "corporate messages tracker" to align relevant teams on what you're saying and where you're saying it.
Finding your narrative threads
A strong ARA weaves consistent messages across multiple sections. As a rule, these are strategy, governance, sustainability and financial performance.
Kerry's Advice: "A quick way to create threads that run through your document is to consider what questions your stakeholders have asked throughout the year. Use roadshows, conferences and meetings as a guide. Are there any recurring themes? If so, use them in your ARA."
These threads create continuity and authenticity, reinforcing trust and showing how your organisation listens and responds to its stakeholders.
Look for storylines that connect:
Purpose and performance — how strategy drives results.
Culture and governance — how values influence decision-making.
Stakeholders and sustainability — how engagement shapes impact.
Capturing key governance themes
Every year brings new or evolving governance topics that must be addressed in your report. For 2026, themes continue to centre on transparency and accountability.
If listed and financial years starting on or after 1 January 2025, your ARA should follow The Corporate Governance Code 2024. Our top 4 themes to be aware of are:
Stronger internal controls and risk management (applies from 1 Jan 2026)
Enhanced governance reporting and board accountability – Focus on Board decisions and their outcomes.
Diversity, inclusion and succession planning.
Strengthened remuneration governance.
Each of these areas offers an opportunity to demonstrate how your governance practices create long-term value.
In our last article, we shared an up-to-date list of new disclosures you need to be aware of. Your responsibility is to capture and present them clearly. Find it here.
Compliance clarity and why it matters
It's easy to think of disclosure requirements as box-ticking. But in practice, they shape how your organisation communicates its integrity and effectiveness.
Regulatory frameworks such as the Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations 2018 and the Corporate Governance Code 2024 are designed to help companies demonstrate transparency and progress.
A well-crafted narrative ensures those requirements are met and that your story resonates with the right audiences: investors, employees, regulators, and the wider community. When done well, compliance becomes a trust builder rather than an administrative burden.
Kerry says, "From legal obligations to emerging best practice, it's about more than meeting requirements. This is your chance to demonstrate your commitment to responsible governance."
Bringing it all together
The narrative you share in your ARA is an opportunity to show how your year of planning aligns with your purpose. It's the space where numbers take on meaning and where your organisation's values and strategy come together to create an engaging story.
As we move through the Kickstarting your annual report and accounts 2026 series, our next focus will be on design and knowing when to ask for help. Speaking of which...
RGS can help:
We support clients in building coherent, compliant narratives that reflect who they are and where they're heading. Our services include:
· Narrative drafting and editing
· Stakeholder workshops and message development
· Governance and compliance reviews
· Project management and content flow mapping
For an informal chat about how RGS can support your 2026 Annual Report and Accounts, get in touch to arrange a discovery call.